I must admit, when I first saw this building, I had chills run down my spine. It really reminded me of the heads of Nazgûl or wraiths from Lord of the Rings. This iconic structure built by Erwin te Kortschot is actually where one of the largest research centres to date in Russia built back in 1968. One can only imagine the kind of dark secrets that may have once filled the dark rooms of this enclave. It does seem to have a sense of an architectural uniqueness that embodies what goes on inside.
I like to see everyday things recreated in LEGO and this one is no exception. The sound of the crank and the aroma of pencil shavings just takes me back to decades of exams and homework. that really seems a lot easier thinking back now. While it’s a perfect representation by Legobyleaves, the way to make it even more awesome is a little modification can be made. Just imagine if the studs drop out only after the crank turns! Remember kids, stay in school as long as you can! Work ain’t fun as you think it may be!
Click to see the pencil sharpener in action
Despite being official pieces, rubber bands are usually hidden away both in official sets and fan creations. While it may be their frequently bright colours or the fact that some see them as “cheater pieces,” we just don’t see them at the forefront of most builds. Bucking that trend is Victor, who has created this clever little chair using a handful of rubber bands and solid red elements to make them blend in. The use of the ribbed hose pieces makes the bands even less noticeable, and all the Technic connectors are rotated just right for a clean shot, with their gaps facing away.
Kinetic art is fascinating to me for both the seemingly impossible nature of its function as well its ability to evaporate a similarly impossible amount of time from the lives of those who are awestruck watching it. This video of a LEGO kinetic sculpture by aeh5040 is sure to entrance anyone who dares press play.
If you’d like to make your own copy of this piece of LEGO kinetic art, you’re in luck. Check out instructions and related materials for this build over on Rebrickable.
Six LEGO sets based on this summer’s upcoming mega-blockbuster Marvel’s Avengers Infinity War are now available in stores and at LEGO online. There are exclusive promos available 3-4th March, including Marvel Artwork and The Guardian’s Ship polybag (30525), which are detailed below. Each Marvel’s Avengers Infinity War set comes with it’s own unique Infinity Gem, so if you want them for Thanos’ gauntlet, you’ll have to collect them all.
US Shop@Home
76108 Sanctum Sanctorum Showdown – $99.99 USD – 1,004 pieces
76107 Thanos: Ultimate Battle – $69.99 USD – 674 pieces
76103 Corvus Glaive Thresher Attack – $39.99 USD – 416 pieces
76104 The Hulkbuster Smash-Up – $29.99 USD – 375 pieces
76102 Thor’s Weapon Quest – $19.99 USD – 223 pieces
76101 Outrider Dropship Attack – $14.99 USD – 124 pieces
UK Shop@Home
76108 Sanctum Sanctorum Showdown – £89.99 – 1,004 pieces
76107 Thanos: Ultimate Battle – £69.99 – 674 pieces
76103 Corvus Glaive Thresher Attack – £34.99 – 416 pieces
76104 The Hulkbuster Smash-Up – £29.99 – 375 pieces
76102 Thor’s Weapon Quest – £19.99 – 223 pieces
76101 Outrider Dropship Attack – £11.99 – 124 pieces
As the sets are based upon an upcoming movie, be aware that there are potential spoilers in the box art pictured below the jump. Click here to see each of the Avengers: Infinity War sets
After seeing some in-person views of the Hulkbuster: Ultron Edition at New York Toy Fair last month, 76105 The Hulkbuster: Ultron Edition is now available from LEGO Shop@Home and in LEGO stores, along with some exclusive promotions only available on 3rd – 4th March. The set, based on Iron Man’s Hulkbuster armor seen in Avengers: Age of Ultron, includes 1,363 pieces and an exclusive Iron Man minifigure,priced at US $119.99 / CA $149.99 / DE 129.99€ / UK £119.99 / DK 1199DKK.
UK Shop@Home 76105 The Hulkbuster: Ultron Edition £119.99
US Shop@Home 76105 The Hulkbuster: Ultron Edition US$119.99
Click here to see the Avengers: Infinity War promotions available 3-4th March 18
The Lord of the Rings is constantly present as a theme in LEGO fan creations, although less so in the past year or two. As an extension, other stories of Tolkien’s universe find their way into bricks, notably and in this example by Carter Witz, the Silmarillion. The build represents the gates of Menegroth, the thousand caverns, which is one of the most beautiful motives in the Silmarillion in my opinion.
As the obvious centerpiece of the diorama the stone door is beautifully crafted with carefully and effectively placed sand blue pieces to break up the gray, as well as some neat part uses, from the shields and a ribbed hose above the gates to the moustaches used as door rings. I should point out the landscaping, which has a good mixture of greens for a realistic grass effect and a neat tree with simple yet effective roots extending beyond the base.
The first word that comes to mind when describing this LEGO swamp scene is atmospheric. Markus Rollbühler has clearly been affected by the dark and damp Danish winter and channelled those dark thoughts when creating this scene The cinematic style is very well done, there are some really fantastic effects – rippling water surface, fog, huge depth of field and the soft lighting. The scene shows some intrepid explorers paddling towards an orc settlement consisting of houses set on high stilts, it makes for a very eerie setting.
Taking a closer, clearer look at the Orc’s stilt houses reveals some fantastic details. The side panels are made from tracks and the hose stilts look suitably risky as an engineering feat. I love the simplicity of using the curled minifigure whips as a way to hang the lanterns, it’s very effective.
Click here to see a closer view of the swamp monsters
Being one of the most innovative and progressive toy manufacturers in the world, The LEGO Group is constantly looking for news of improving the manufacturing process and making it cleaner. Today it was announced that the production of the new plant-bases plastic elements sourced from sugarcane has been already started and LEGO botanical elements such as leaves and bushes made from sustainably sources plastic will appear in LEGO sets this year.
Click here to read the full press release
The Star Wars saga is all about two things – machines and locations. Of course, some may say it’s also about the Force, family relationship and friendship, but none of this would work without iconic spacecrafts and mesmerizing sceneries. Chris McVeigh reveals a very special collection of three vignettes featuring our favourite pieces of machinery. But what is absolutely cool about these builds is that each of them has a motion feature, which brings an AT-ST, the Millenium Falcon and an AT-AT to life with a simple turn of the crank.
Click here to see this adorable collection of moving models!
This Technic Silo Truck by Designer-Han shows that sometimes boxy is sooo good. The design elements of the model are pretty simple, with beam-built body panels and a SYSTEM brick-built “silo” as cargo. The roof of the cab shows some thoughtful details, including a rack of lights, top air dam, and CB antenna.
Click here to see the play functions and a video of the truck in action
The largest LEGO set in the first LEGO Speed Champions wave of 2018 is 75889 Ferrari Ultimate Garage, which includes 841 pieces and 7 minifigures. The set goes on sale for $99.99 beginning on March 1st, and LEGO sent us an early copy of the set so we could bring you this review on the day of its release.
75889 Ferrari Ultimate Garage showcases three iconic Ferrari racecars from three eras — the Ferrari 250 GTO from 1962, Ferrari 312 T4 from 1979, and current 488 GTE (the model one generation earlier than the racecar in 75886 Ferrari 488 GT3 “Scuderia Corsa”, which we reviewed earlier this week).
Read our complete, hands-on review of LEGO Speed Champions 75889 Ferrari Ultimate Garage